June was a wet month. In fact we got nearly 3 inches more rain than usual. That leads to many common lawn issues. The first is a disease called Brown Patch. Brown patch is most severe during extended periods of hot, humid weather. The disease can begin to develop when night temperatures exceed 60°F, but is most severe when low and high temperatures are above 70°F and 90°F, respectively. The turfgrass leaves must be continuously wet for at least 10 to 12 hours for the brown patch fungus to infect. Poor soil drainage, lack of air movement, shade, cloudy weather, dew, over-watering, and watering in late afternoon favor prolonged leaf wetness and increased disease severity.
While a healthy lawn is typically more resistant to disease, there isn't much of a prevention for Brown Patch. Just like people can catch colds, so can your lawn. The best way to eliminate Brown Patch is with a prescriptive fungicide. If you suspect Brown Patch, give us a call.
Insects are thriving.
In addition to disease, wet weather also brings several arthropods – insects with exoskeletons and jointed, segmented legs, indoors including clover mites and ants among others. Only 0.03 inches long, clover mites look like moving dark spots to the naked eye. Clover mites will not harm people or pets but are considered nuisances because they often are found in large numbers and leave a red-brown stain when crushed. The grass-eating mites are always present in lawns, feeding on clover and grass, but thrive during cool, wet springs or in fertilized turf. They will crawl up outside walls and enter homes around doors or windows. They will not infest household products. Once inside, they will soon die. If found indoors, wipe the mites up with a soapy rag or wet sponge being careful not to crush the mites and cause stains.
Another common wet weather home invader is the pavement ant. These ants often build their nests along building foundations, concrete slabs, or sidewalks and enter homes through cracks or openings. The ants have an indiscriminate palate, eating everything from dead insects to greasy foods to pet food. Oftentimes, they'll form a trail from their colonies to their food sources. Over time, ant traps will destroy the whole colony.
But for the ultimate in protection, consider our Perimeter Pest service will control these insects and more. We coat the foundation of your home and saturate the ground around your home 3-4 feet, creating a wide band of protection.A wet June leads to several lawn issues.
June was a wet month. In fact we got nearly 3 inches more rain than usual. That leads to many common lawn issues. The first is a disease called Brown Patch. Brown patch is most severe during extended periods of hot, humid weather. The disease can begin to develop when night temperatures exceed 60°F, but is most severe when low and high temperatures are above 70°F and 90°F, respectively. The turfgrass leaves must be continuously wet for at least 10 to 12 hours for the brown patch fungus to infect. Poor soil drainage, lack of air movement, shade, cloudy weather, dew, over-watering, and watering in late afternoon favor prolonged leaf wetness and increased disease severity.
While a healthy lawn is typically more resistant to disease, there isn't much of a prevention for Brown Patch. Just like people can catch colds, so can your lawn. The best way to eliminate Brown Patch is with a prescriptive fungicide. If you suspect Brown Patch, give us a call.
Insects are thriving.
In addition to disease, wet weather also brings several arthropods – insects with exoskeletons and jointed, segmented legs, indoors including clover mites and ants among others. Only 0.03 inches long, clover mites look like moving dark spots to the naked eye. Clover mites will not harm people or pets but are considered nuisances because they often are found in large numbers and leave a red-brown stain when crushed. The grass-eating mites are always present in lawns, feeding on clover and grass, but thrive during cool, wet springs or in fertilized turf. They will crawl up outside walls and enter homes around doors or windows. They will not infest household products. Once inside, they will soon die. If found indoors, wipe the mites up with a soapy rag or wet sponge being careful not to crush the mites and cause stains.
Another common wet weather home invader is the pavement ant. These ants often build their nests along building foundations, concrete slabs, or sidewalks and enter homes through cracks or openings. The ants have an indiscriminate palate, eating everything from dead insects to greasy foods to pet food. Oftentimes, they'll form a trail from their colonies to their food sources. Over time, ant traps will destroy the whole colony.
But for the ultimate in protection, consider our Perimeter Pest service will control these insects and more. We coat the foundation of your home and saturate the ground around your home 3-4 feet, creating a wide band of protection.